Yanbian Watermelon

Yanbian Watermelon

Yanbian watermelon is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Yanbian watermelon has a long history. According to the *Yanbian County Annals*, since 1968, crops such as plums, peaches, and watermelons have been grown sporadically in the low-mountainous areas at elevations of 1,600–1,800 meters. Records show that watermelons were once primarily cultivated in the Minzhu River Dam area of Huimin Township, with a history of nearly 50 years. Yanbian watermelons are of excellent quality — they ripen early, have thin skins, bright peach-red flesh, fine and sandy-textured meat, are juicy with little fiber, don’t easily lose shape, have high sugar content, are rich in vitamin C, and are very palatable. They are widely sold in major cities such as Chengdu, Shanghai, Beijing, Kunming, and Mianyang, and are highly favored by consumers. In the early 1980s, Yanbian watermelon cultivation expanded from its original limited area in Huimin to ten townships: Yumen, Yongxing, Qinghe, Guosheng, Ganyu, Hongguo, Tongzilin, Yimin, and Hongge. The annual planting area reached 40,000 mu. Starting in 1990, the double-film mulching cultivation technique was introduced and promoted, and in 1996, the grafted cultivation technique was tested and promoted. It has now developed into grafted seedling cultivation in heated greenhouses, mainly using high-temperature sheds and large arch sheds with double or multiple film mulching. The Yanbian County Government places great emphasis on watermelon production. In 2009, watermelon farming was officially included as a key industry to help farmers in central and northern Yanbian achieve prosperity. Provincial and municipal authorities also included Yanbian’s watermelon production as a major project under the post-resettlement support program for the Ertan Dam migrants. The average annual planting area is 40,000 mu, with a total yield of 160,000 tons. It has formed one specialized town and 27 specialized villages, and the “Hui Min” trademark has been registered.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Yanbian watermelon is produced in Yanbian County, Panzhihua City, Sichuan Province, which is an important part of China’s southwestern resource “Golden Triangle.” The protected geographical indication area includes 11 townships (towns) in Yanbian County: Yumen, Yongxing, Huimin, Guosheng, Qinghe, Ganyu, Hongguo, Tongzilin, Hongge, Yimin, and He’ai. The eastern boundary extends to He’ai Township, the southern to Hongge Town, the western to Yongxing Town, and the northern to Guosheng Township. The geographic coordinates are 101°21′23″–101°58′45″ east longitude and 26°21′23″–27°06′08″ north latitude. The protected area spans 15,000 hectares, with an annual yield of 300,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Yanbian watermelons are nearly round in shape, with green rinds covered by dark green stripes or ridges. The fruits are uniform and neat, with glossy surfaces and thin skins. The flesh is bright red, moderately firm yet not hollow, with small seeds, abundant juice, a crisp texture, sweet taste, and low fiber content. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: Yanbian watermelons contain ≥10% soluble solids and ≥8% total sugar, along with abundant vitamin C. (3) Safety Requirements: They meet the safety standards of *Pollution-Free Watermelon* (NY5109-2005).